St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-03-05
THE RAVENS NEST.

-Geids~ Days.
THE RAVENS NEST.
Why Small hoy Rs0enbseed ths ff1eh:
..Ise Sure Yoar Sin VIM Elna Yss Oss."
"Would you not like to sec . ravens
nest, Willy?"
"A whata" exclaimed Willy. in much
surprise. and with his eyes wide open.
"A ravens nest stupid" repeated
his companion.
''Why there are not any about here!
"Aren't there, though; that's all you
know about it. saw ono yesterday"
Nonsense" said Willy:
II tell you did," returned the other
stoutly. II was over there at Chere-
ham Cliffs yesterday and I saw it" he
concluded, with great emphasis.
WHY'S eyes opened wider still. ''Oh!
should like to see it. too" he ex-
claimed.
'.Well, come on then" !" said the other.
Sam Heathcote by name, who lived not
far from the cottage where Willy dwelt
with his grandfather and grandmother.
But Willy did not move.
''Come on" cried Sam, again; "what
are you waiting for?"
Willy still paused. he was thinking
that he had been told not to 60 near
Chereham Cliffs. But the temptation
was strong. A ravens nest is not to
be seen very often, and If the news OF
its existence became noised abroad in
the village it might not remain there
much longer. Yet Willy tried to be an
Obedient boy. and SO compromised the
matter by saying to himself: 'Wcll. 1
will 60 now. and then l will tell
grandma how it was, and she will for
give me. because should 50 much like
to see this strange and rare thing" So
he cried: "All right Sam. here gOes!"
and the two boys turned away from the
village. and hurried over the fields in
the direction Of the famous cliffs.
These were not by the seashore. -
might perhaps be supposed. They form
the sides Of q huge rent or pass through
some high hills in the west country. .
wild, and, for children. somewhat dam
gcrous spot. which visitors came from
long distances to see, and against
which mothers warned their boys and
girls. The village was ON the grassy
and gently-sloping side Of the hills. 50
Sam and his companion had not very
far to 60.
"what have you got that rope and
pole fora" asked Willy IS he and Sam
trotted over the fields. which. rising
rather gradually here, led toward the
top Of the cliffs.
ITO help ourselves down BY" said
Sam; ''the nest Is half way down the
cliffs. and It il too steep and rough to
Chamber down without . rope"
''Ohr' said Willy, alarmed. "Why
did you not say 50 beforep" He was
only little fellow. and this seemed .
dreadfully dangerous proceeding.
"What" cried his companion, ''are
you going to be . coward now, eh. and
60 back?'
Mo-" replied the other. decided
", and he trotted forward again. but
less quickly than before.
In due time they reached the top, and
looked down the rugged cliffs. Behind
them stretched the undulating SUBMITS
Of the range Of hills. covered with
short. sweet grass, which Aocks Of sheep
were nibbling; in front was the chasm.
and across the chasm the sward covered
hills stretched forward again.
'Now." said Sam, I'VE will tie the
end Of the rope round this POLE
which he pushed into . hole in the
earth. and the other end / will fasten
round me. under my arms. lso-d'ye
seef'- suiting the action to the word.
'"Then you hold the rope round the
pole 50 that it shall keep fast. and
carefully picking his way-"I can
Chamber down pretty nearly all the way.
only l have the rope case We should
fall. Mind and hold to It tight I'd
like to have the ravens eggs before
anybody else-or perhaps there are
young ones-who knows!''
Willy clutched the rope with . des-
perate grasp, and watched Sam disap-
peared, but his heart was sorrowful,
How he wished he had not come! Slow
ly the minutes passed. The rope grad
ually went out over the cli6. bit By bit
Sam seemed making his way very caro-
fully and very slowly. and occasionally
Willy heard him shouting and singing
as II greatly delighted. Presently he
heard him call: Pull up the rope.
Willy; l am coming"
So Willy pluckcd up little courage.
pulled the rope - it became slack. and
lying full length on the grass. ventured
to peep over the chasm and look at
Sam! Yes, there he was slowly making
his way up the rough cli6 amid the
wilderness Of grass and Wild Aowers
and thistles that adorned The side. Oh!
bow profoundly Quiet i wss! Thew